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Post by nyujeelandsaram on Oct 17, 2004 10:08:49 GMT -5
Yeah but anybody can slip up against anybody else really. Korea drawing with the Maldives being a classic example. China is rubbish. To my knowledge they have never defeated Korea in their history. When Korea play them they always make them look second rate all over the pitch (until it comes to scoring ). I'm really not sure about Australia's real ability as it never gets tested. They play friendlies which don't seem to count, they play in the confed cup which doesn't seem to count. They play in the Oceania qualifiers which don't seem to count. Does anything count at all outside the WC or Euro tourny? At the end of the day though they have several guys playing in some of the toughest leagues in the world, which Korea doesn't really. I'd love to see Korea try and beat Australia away. It just makes more sense though for them to be in the Asian groups and the only reason they aren't is because of a South America/Asia/fifa jackup.
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Post by Holyjoe on Oct 17, 2004 10:15:38 GMT -5
Another thing that seems to go against Australia, is that seemingly lots of their Europe-based players don't really give a toss about their national team. Aye, and the fans of those European clubs aren't too forgiving when the players do want to go off to play for their country either. Craig Moore of Rangers found himself stripped of the club captaincy and put on the transfer list because he insisted he wanted to play in the Olympic tournament and thus miss a few Rangers games. Cue the fans: "the Olympics is a joke tournament"/"get his priorities right" etc.. conveniently overlooking the fact that whilst in European terms the Olympics might not mean much, for a hell of a lot of other countries it actually does... He's a decent player too, and I think he's resolved his differences with the club (which is a shame ;D )
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Post by ironops on Oct 17, 2004 10:24:22 GMT -5
I'm really not sure about Australia's real ability as it never gets tested. They play friendlies which don't seem to count, they play in the confed cup which doesn't seem to count. They play in the Oceania qualifiers which don't seem to count. Does anything count at all outside the WC or Euro tourny? At the end of the day though they have several guys playing in some of the toughest leagues in the world, which Korea doesn't really. I'd love to see Korea try and beat Australia away. Yeah, fair point about Australia never being properly tested. Both Korea and Japan have the upper hand against Australia in recent encounters, I think, but, you're right, I don't think either have played them away recently. I disagree slightly about the players abroad bit. Korea (and Japan too) do in fact have quite a few key players in decent leagues also (although granted not as many they really need). Another thing you have to bear in mind here is that this factor isn't really a very good comparison. For Aussie players who want at least a semi-decent team to play for and to be well paid for it, there isn't really any choice but to go abroad and for language and cultural reasons that'll nearly always be Europe. (In many cases, dual nationality makes this practically very easy for them and their potential employers) For Korean or Japanese internationals, on the other hand, staying in East Asia is a much more realistic and profitable option than it would be for Aussie footballers staying at home. And the standard of the K-League is arguably not that far behind, if at all, some of the middling European leagues some Aussies might be in.
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Post by nyujeelandsaram on Oct 17, 2004 21:36:09 GMT -5
At the end of the day though all I'm trying to say is why is Australia competing with good South American teams with long histories of qualifying and doing well at the WC in order to qualify for the WC?
When Asian teams who had almost never won a single game at the WC until last time out get 4 or 5 teams there?
It's like England having to play home and away v Cameroon in order to get a WC spot, despite not having lost a game leading up to that point.
Join Oceania and Asia. It would be a big boost to teams down our way as we would get more internationals and they would be more appealing than New Zealand v Fiji for starters.
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Post by ironops on Oct 17, 2004 22:25:17 GMT -5
If England were in a special north Atlantic zone playing the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, the Isle of Man, Rockall, the North Pole and the Titanic that might be a good comparison. Buuuuut... Seriously, fair enough. Where we'll just have to disagree is on how good Australia really are. You're obviously more convinced than I am of their quality. You might be right. I do agree with you totally on the best solution, though -i.e. stick Oceania in Asia. As you said, it would be much better for football throughout the present Oceania region. We'd also get a better idea of how good or not the Aussie team really is.
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Post by nyujeelandsaram on Oct 18, 2004 9:06:32 GMT -5
I do agree with you totally on the best solution, though -i.e. stick Oceania in Asia. As you said, it would be much better for football throughout the present Oceania region. We'd also get a better idea of how good or not the Aussie team really is. Exactly. It's the only way we will ever really know. Plus it would strengthen the WC if they do turn out to be able to qualify through Asia, therefore knocking a weaker team out of the tournament. Good for the WC and good for the sport down our way. But i can't see it happening though as it is in nobodys best interests outside the Oceania confederation. Money, power and all that...
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Post by Holyjoe on Nov 2, 2004 9:55:59 GMT -5
Back on topic (slightly), Berti jumped... or exited by 'mutual consent'... or something or other. Bet he wishes he called the KFA back after they reputedly approached him in June about the vacant managers job. He could still get the Korean job when they fail against the Maldives on the 17th (just kidding with that one...)
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teppic
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by teppic on Nov 8, 2004 9:40:39 GMT -5
walter smith scotland
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Post by Canuckistan on Nov 11, 2004 0:57:42 GMT -5
If England were in a special north Atlantic zone playing the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, the Isle of Man, Rockall, the North Pole and the Titanic that might be a good comparison. Buuuuut... You forgot Scotland although that wouldn't really improve the standard. Put Canada in there too. Scotland aren't out technically. Canada are.
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Post by SteveW on Nov 11, 2004 4:55:34 GMT -5
I think Canada are one of the few teams Scotland actually managed to beat. We had a load of Canadians in the SPL though....
Off the top of my head I can remember.... Onstadt, De Vos, Dasovic, Xausa, Hastings. Think those are right.
Probably a few more too.
Think yourself lucky Steve Tosh doesn;t have a Canadian granny!!
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